Fisticuffers

One quiet afternoon last week the world "liar" echoed through the Senate chamber; almost simultaneously it was heard along with profanity in the lobby of the House. Hostilities ensued.

Glass v. Wheeler. The Senate was trying to set a date to vote on the McFadden branch banking bill. Senator Burton K. Wheeler demanded that he be allowed to speak for one hour in opposition to the bill, said that Senators Pepper and Glass had promised him the opportunity the night before. Senator Glass immediately denied any such promise. Vice President Dawes rapped his gavel, ruled the discussion out of order, proceeded with a roll call. In the rear of the Senate chamber Carter Glass, 69, thorough Virginia gentleman, ripe scholar, co-author of the Federal Reserve banking law, and Burton K. Wheeler, thorough Montana gentleman, political radical, 1924 candidate for Vice President on the LaFollette ticket, strode toward each other with infernal fire in their respective eyes.

"Glass, you broke your word to me," snarled Senator Wheeler, 45, to a man 24 years his senior.

"You lie," cried Lightweight Glass as he doubled up one fist, grabbed Middleweight Wheeler by the arm. A wary secretary leaped between them; Senators rushed up to pacify. Mr. Glass, shouting for battle, was thrust into the cloakroom. . . . The tumult died gradually; the Senate went back to business. Both of these thwarted fisticuffers were Democrats.

Strong v. Tincher. In the lobby of the House two beefy Republicans from Kansas swung lustily, swung wide. "You'll not talk that way to me," bellowed Representative James G. Strong of Blue Rapids, weighing 225 pounds.

"You're a liar," replied Representative J. N. Tincher of Medicine Lodge, weighing 250 pounds.

They had been arguing over the McNary-Haugen farm bill. Speaker Longworth and Representative Hudspeth of Texas separated them. Mighty though their swings had been, not a fist found its target. The heavyweight championship battle of the House was a maudlin, scoreless tie.